Structural dock system



Dec. 1, 1-970 H. E. NELsoN STRUCTURAL I-)OCK SYSTEM lmfertor.

3,543,523 STRUCTURAL DOCK SYSTEM Harry E. Nelson, La Pointe, Wis.,assigner, by mesne assignments, to Gary Industries, Inc., Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of Nevada Filed Feb. 6, 1969, Ser. No. 797,084 Int. Cl.E02b 17/00 U.S. Cl. 61-46 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thesubject structure pertains to a dock system wherein the dock platformcarries on its under side a plurality of sleeves which telescope freelyover driven piling so as to enable the dock platform to rise and fallwith the rise and fall of the level of ice on the water mass and therebyprevent pulling of the piling from its anchorage.

The invention relates to improvements in structural dock systems and isparticularly concerned with a structure that prevents damage to thedriven piles resulting from the rise and fall of the level of ice on thewater surface. Heretofore, when a body of water freezes around pilingdriven into a lake bed, any rise in the water level would cause thepiling to be pulled from the lake bed because the ice is attached to thepiling. In the present disclosure, the dock platform is provided with aseries of novelly constructed sleeves on its bottom face. These sleevestelescope freely over piling driven into a lake bed so that when iceforms on the water surface, there is no mechanical strain applied to thedriven piling as the level of the ice rises with the tide. This isbecause the ice is attached to the sleeves and the sleeves and supporteddock platform rise and fall with the ice level.

Itis therefore an object of the invention to provide a dock structure ofthe character referred to.

Another object is to provide a dock structure with telescoping supportpiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dock platform with aplurality of sleeves depending from its bottom face and which telescopeover upstanding driven piles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent withreference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative dock structureembodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the telescopedsupport pile assemblies.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of pilingassembly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of another modified form ofpile assembly.

Referring to the exemplary disclosure of the invention as shown in theaccompanying drawings, the dock platform 11, which may be of anysuitable construction, has depending from its bottom surface a multitudeof sleeves 12 which may be cross-braced by braces or trusses 13.

nited States Patent C These sleeves are characterized in the FIG. 2disclosure,

3,543,523 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 eral rim 14a, having stiffening angles15 secured thereto and to the sleeves. The upper end of the upper one ofsaid sleeves, namely section 12a, has a cap plate 16 welded thereto andsecured in any suitable manner to the dock platform 11.

Each sleeve 12 is telescoped over the upper end of a tubular pile 17that is driven into the lake bed 18. The upper end of piling 17terminates below the water level and is closed by a cap plate 19 weldedthereto. Preferably an air hole 21 is provided in sleeve 17. If desired,wood piling may be used.

When the sleeves 12 are telescoped over the respective pilings 17 and noice is present in suliicient amount to urge the dock upwardly, thebearing plates 14 normally rest on the cap plates 19. When the waterfreezes, the ice layer 22 bonds to the sleeve 12 and as the level of theice layer rises and falls with the tide, the sleeves 12 will move withthe ice, telescoping over pilings 17. This movement depends upon thedifference in force between the weight of the dock structure and theupward thrust of the ice. It will thus be seen that there is never anydanger of the pilings becoming loosened from or pulled out of the bed 18by the action of the ice layer.

In the FIG. 3 disclosure, the dock platform 11 has depending from itwood piles 22 (one shown) each having a sleeve 23 attached firmly to itas by bolts 24. The sleeve extends below the bottom end of the pile 22and is telescoped loosely over a driven pile 17a which may be wood or asleeve as shown at 17 in FIG. 2.

The function and operation of the structure shown in FIG. 4, is likethat previously described. However, here, instead of the previouslymentioned bearing plate 14, there is provided in a one-piece sleeve 12,a series of circumferentially spaced lengths of round stock 25 which arereinforced in their mounting by a plate 26 that is Welded to the sleeve.The lengths of round stock normally rest upon the cap plate 19 tosustain the dock platform at a predetermined low level.

Although I have described a number of preferred embodiments of myinvention, in considerable detail, it will be understood that thedescription thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather thanrestrictive, as details of the structure may be modified or changedwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact constructionsdescribed.

I claim:

1. A dock structure comprising, in combination, a plurality ofvertically disposed sleeves arranged below said platform, a cap plate oneach sleeve secured firmly to the platform, a plurality of piles driveninto the bed of a body of water and having their upper ends located ashort distance below the water surface, a load bearing element in eachsleeve spaced from its lower end, said sleeves being telescoped looselyover the piles and having their bearing elements normally seated on thetop end ofthe respective pile, the sleeves being free to move upwardlyunder applied pressure upwardly by the presence of ice on the surface ofthe body of water.

2. The dock structure recited in claim 1, in Which the bearing elementscomprise bearing plates.

3. The dock structure recited in claim 1, in which the pilings aretubular and have a cap plate integral therewith.

4. The dock structure recited in claim 1, in which the bearing elementscomprise radial bearing rods integral with each sleeve.

5. The dock structure recited in claim 2, in which the 2,687,617 8/ 1954Newell 61-48 bearing plates extend to the outside of the sleeves and2,736,172 2/ 1956 McChesney 61-46 carry reinforcing means. 3,170,299 2/1965 Clarke 61-54X 6. The dock structure recited in claim 4, in whichthe 3,180,099 4/ 1965 Mikolajczyk et a1. 61-54 sleeves are reinforced inthe area of the bearing rods. 3,370,432 2/ 1968 Butler et al. 61-54 5References Cited J. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTSU'S. C1. XIR. 360,273 3/1887 Bomeman 61-52 61 52) 54 2,592,626 4/1952Wanless 61-43 lo

